Pietersen’s 48 powers Gladiators to six-wicket win

SHARJAH: Kevin Pietersen’s 48-run knock powered Quetta Gladiators to outpower Islamabad United by six wickets in the first match of the Sharjah leg of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Wednesday.

In the first innings of the match, successive timely wickets by Quetta’s bowling attack restricted Islamabad United to 134 runs.

Quetta faced early setback with the wickets of Shane Watson and Umar Amin.

A no-ball from Rumman Raees saved Watson from a dismissal after he was caught by Misbahul Haq, however, on the ball of fast bowler Steven Finn the opener gave an easy catch to Raees over midwicket.

An inside edge on a short of a length delivery bowled Umar Amin.

Later in the game, out-of-form Asad Shafiq failed to click in this game of the tournament as well as he failed to hit the ball, which went to hit the stumps on the last ball of the fifth over.

Both the teams made changes in their squad as Misbahul Haq and JP Duminy joined United’s final playing-11, while John Hastings and Mahmudullah are featuring for the Gladiators.

Fast bowler Raees was taken off the field as he faced a knee-injury during the game.